Chptr Brings Together Death Care and Modern Media Leaders to Accelerate Modernizing the Obituary for Families and Funeral Homes

Six Respected Industry Leaders Join Chptr’s Advisory Board, Representing MKJ Marketing, Heritage Family, Homesteaders, and Independent Funeral Service

New York, NY — December 18, 2025 — Chptr, the community storytelling company helping funeral directors bring a more modern, meaningful, and accessible obituary experience to the families they serve, today announced the formation of its Obituary Advisory Board. Six of the profession’s most trusted operators, directors, marketers, and strategists have joined the board, including Glenn and Marilyn Gould of MKJ Marketing, Lindsay Granson of Heritage Family, Courtney Gould Miller of Homesteaders, Ricardo Carrillo of Carrillo Funeral Home, and Timothy Szczesny of DeMunn Funeral Home.

The group joins existing advisors and media leaders Christian A. Hendricks of the Local Media Consortium and Laura Clark of NPGCO. The Advisory Board’s formation marks an important milestone as Chptr scales nationwide to help funeral homes bring a modern obituary experience to the communities they serve. The group brings decades of operational, marketing, and family-service expertise and will advise Chptr on ensuring its broadcast, social, and video offerings remain simple, dignified, and deeply aligned with how funeral directors work.

Advisory Board members bring deep and complementary expertise across death care and modern media:

● Glenn and Marilyn Gould have spent more than 30 years building MKJ Marketing into one of the most trusted agencies in the profession, advising hundreds of funeral homes on strategic growth and family experience.

● Lindsay Granson, Chief Operating Officer of Heritage Family, leads one of the nation’s most respected multi-location funeral home organizations and brings deep expertise in family service excellence.

● Courtney Gould Miller, Chief Growth Officer at Homesteaders, has overseen strategic partnerships and product development supporting thousands of funeral homes.

● Timothy Szczesny, owner of DeMunn Funeral Home and Cremation Service, provides the essential perspective of an independent funeral director serving families every day.

● Ricardo Carrillo, owner of Carrillo Funeral Homes in Dallas, is a leading Latino funeral service voice whose experience supporting Hispanic families strengthens Chptr’s understanding of diverse community needs.

● Laura Clark serves as Chief People Officer at News-Press & Gazette Company, bringing expertise in organizational development and operational excellence across media properties.

● Christian A. Hendricks, representing the Local Media Consortium, brings deep expertise in digital media strategy and local news operations, strengthening Chptr’s alignment with community-focused publishers.

“Chptr, with our nationwide network of local media partners, was built to serve the people who serve families,” said Rehan Choudhry, CEO of Chptr. “Each member of this board has earned trust in the profession across the country. Their guidance ensures we stay grounded in the realities of funeral service and continue building tools that support directors in meaningful, practical ways.”

Chptr transforms family photos and memories into broadcast-ready video tributes that notify the wider community across local television, social media, and digital channels. By handling production and coordination directly with families, Chptr keeps the process simple for funeral directors while reinforcing their role as trusted community leaders.

“Directors need tools that help families feel supported without adding more steps to an already demanding day. Chptr delivers that,” said Lindsay Granson, COO of Heritage Family. “They help families reach the community while taking the production and coordination off our plate. We can feel the difference in how families respond and how confidently our directors offer the service.”

The Advisory Board has already begun advising on expansion priorities, partnership standards, and enhancements that address key challenges directors face in arrangement rooms. Their insight will guide Chptr as it continues to scale its offerings nationwide.

“Obituaries are a cornerstone of community journalism, and bringing them into video makes them even more powerful,” said Christian A. Hendricks, president of the Local Media Consortium. “That’s why we’ve engaged with Chptr. It transforms a simple notice into a story the whole community can see and feel. It’s exactly the kind of service local media was built to deliver.”

About Chptr

Founded in 2023 and headquartered in New York, Chptr is the community storytelling company that helps funeral homes bring modern memorialization to the families they serve. Through its Broadcast, Social, and Video offerings, Chptr transforms photos and memories into video tributes that reach thousands, helping communities gather, show support, and honor every life properly. Chptr partners with funeral homes and media companies across the United States, coordinating directly with families to keep workflows simple for funeral directors. Learn more at www.chptr.com.